Boston Alliance for Community Health (BACH)

Status: Past Project
Year: 2012
Location: Boston
Client: Government organizations, Health Care (including hospitals and health systems)
Services Provided: Policy & Health Systems Improvement, Multi-Sector Convening, Training and Technical Assistance
Technical Expertise: Healthy Eating, Active Living, Other


The Boston Alliance for Community Health (BACH) was a partnership of Boston neighborhood coalitions, hospitals, not-for-profits and community-based organizations, health centers, the Boston Public Health Commission, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and community residents. With a focus on racial equity, BACH’s mission was to unite public, private, and non-profit partners in neighborhood-based, data-driven health planning and improvement to influence policymaking, program development, service delivery, and resource allocations that protect, promote and improve the health and well-being of all Boston residents.

Some notable projects/efforts included:

  • Leading an intensive community health assessment and improvement plan for the City of Boston called Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnership (MAPP), in collaboration with over 85 community partners and thousands of residents across Boston communities.
  • Engagement of over 70 residents in the Healthy Community Champions (HCC) Program. HCCs served as grassroots ambassadors and educators at the neighborhood level to mobilize community engagement and support for Let’s Get Healthy, Boston, a $5.4 million, 3-year grant funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through the Partnerships Improving Community Health initiative, with a goal of reducing the burden of chronic disease through tobacco, nutrition and physical activity work. HCCs merged with the Ambassadors program, which focused on legislative advocacy at the neighborhood level.
  • Partnering with the Alliance for Community Health Integration (ACHI), a coalition of public health, consumer advocacy, social service, and community organizations working to harness health care to address social determinants of health and promote health equity. As an active member of the Alliance for Community Health Integration, BACH supported efforts to 1) better align hospital investments with community needs and 2) partner with health care to advance affordable housing policy. BACH also played a major role in enhancing community engagement in planning and allocations of resources of hospital Community Benefits and Determination of Need dollars.